Tongue-switch.



E. T. ALBURGER, In.

TONGUE SWITCH. APPLIOATION FILED APR.10.1909.

Patented July 13, 1909.

INVENTOR L n H A omvsv YOJ-ITRQORlPNiR/ v WASNIKGYQN D c WITNESSES E. T. ALBURGERQJB,

TONGUE SWITCH.

APPLICATION rum) APB. 10.1909.

Patented July 13, 1909.

E. T. ALBURGER, In. 7

TONGUE SWITCH. APPLICATION TILED APB.'10.1909.

927,920. Patented July 13, 1909.

WITNESSES EDWARD T. ALBURG-ER, JR, OF STEELTON, PENNSYLVANIA.

TONGUE-SWITCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 13, 1909.

Application filed April 10, 1909. Serial Iva 489,054.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD T. ALBURGER, Jr., a citizen of the United States, residing at Steelton, in the county of Dauphin and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and. useful Improvements in Tongue- Switches, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to tongue switches for railway rails.

The object of my invention is to provide a novel switch structure of simple and eflicient construction, having provision: first, whereby the switch tongue may be held. in proper working position; secondly, whereby certain parts may be adjusted to compensate for wear; thirdly, whereby the kicking or accidental throwing of the switch may be prevented; fourthly, whereby the pivot pin for the switch tongue may be concealed beneath the upper or exposed parts of the switch structure in rear of the heel end of the switch tongue, in a plane close to the horizontal plane occupied by said tongue; and ii'fthly, whereby the upper or tread portions of the main body of the structure may be formed of a single casting of novel construction so related to the other parts of the entire structure that the parts of the entire structure may be readily assembled together.

The invention consists in the novel construction and combinations of parts which will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the drawings -Figure 1 is a plan view of a switch structure, partly broken away, embodying my invention. Fi 2 is a plan view of the parts shown at the eft hand end of Fig. 1, having the switch tongue removed therefrom. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the heel end of the switch. tongue. Fig. 4 is a vertical section on line 4-4 of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a horizontal section on line 55 of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. '4, showing the main frame of the structure in section, and one position of the switch tongue while being assembled into proper relation with the main frame. Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6, showing other positions of the switchtongue while being assembled into proper relation with the main frame. Fig. 8 is a vertical section on line 8-8 of Fig. 5. Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 8, showing a modified form of the invention.

2 designates the frame or base of a railway switch section. This frame or base includes a floor portion 3 provided with downwardly extending supporting walls 7 which may be located in any desirable position to form a firm and rigid frame for the switch structure.

Rising from one side of the floor portion 3 and. extending longitudinally of the frame 2 is a tread portion 8, and rising from the other side of the floor portion 3 and extending longitu dinally of the frame 2 is a guard portion 9.

Resting upon the floor portion 3 between the tread portion 8 and guard portion 9 is the switch tongue 10, the heel end of which abuts against a tread portion 1.1 rising from the floor portion 3 between the tread portion 8 and guard portion 9.

Leading from the tread portions 8 and 11 are the two diverging track rails 12 and 13 respectively, and leading from the tread portion 8 is the track rail 14.

The point end of the switch tongue 10 is movable into engagement with the tread portion 8 to direct the car wheels to the rails 1.3 and 14, and the switch tongue 10 is also movable into engagement with the guard portion 9 to direct the car wheels to the rails 12 and 14.

The floor portion 3 is provided with an opening 15 extending therethrough directly beneath the heel end of the switch tongue 10. The width of this opening 15 is less than the width of the heel end of the switch tongue, and the opening is entirely covered by the tongue in any position to which it may be moved between the tread portion 8 and guard portion 9 of the switch structure.

Formed on the heel end of the switch tongue is an arm 16, which extends downwardly as at 17 through the opening 15 and then rearwardly and horizontally as at 18 beneath the tread portion 11. Formed 011 the end of the arm 18 beneath the tread portion 1.1 is a pivot pin 19 for the switch tongue 10, which pin extends upwardly from the arm 18 between two vertical walls 20 and 21 of the frame 2. The bottom of the pin 19 or rearward. end. of the arm 16, rests upon a removable, horizontallyarranged bearing plate 22, which is speltered. into an opening 23 in. the wall 20 of the frame. The rearward portion of the pin 19 is fitted to a bearing 24 formed in the wall 20, as shown. The

pin 19 is maintained in place within the bearing 24 by an adjustable bearing 25 resting upon the arm 16 and interposed between the forward portion of the pin 19 and the wall 21 of the frame. This adjustable hearing comprises two blocks 26' and 27, and an adjusting screw 28 therefor which extends through the blocks. The blocks 26 and 27 overlap each other as shown, the block 26 having an end extending outwardly from the block 27 on one side of the pin 19 and the block 27 having an end extending outwardly from the block 26 on the other side of the pin 19. The forward face of the block 27 is fitted to the rearward face of the wall 21 which is arranged at right angles to the switch tongue 10, and its arm 16. The rearward face of the block 26 is provided with a bearing surface 29 fitted to the forward portion of the in 19, and the opposing faces of the bloc s 26 and 27 are fittedto each other on a plane arranged at an angle with respect to the rearward face of the wall 21, whereby when the outwardly extending ends of the blocks 26 and 27 are forced inwardly or to ward each other, the block 26 will be adjusted into engagement with the pin 19 and the pin 19 will be adjusted into engagement with its bearing 24 and held therein.

One end of the bolt 28 is provided with a head 30 which extends at right angles to the bolt toward the wall 20, and is engaged with the outwardly extending end of the block 26. The other end of the bolt 28 is screw-threaded, and is provided with a nut 31 engaging a washer 32 which in turn engages the outwardly extending end of the block 27. It will thus be seen that by adjusting the nut 31 upon the bolt 28, the outwardly extending ends of the blocks 26 and 27 may be forced inwardly or toward each other, for the pur pose of adjusting the bearing 25 into proper relation with the pin 19. In order to prevent the turning of the bolt 28 during the adjustment of the nut 31 thereon, I provide a groove 33 in the outwardly extending end of the block 26 into which groove the head 30 is fitted. A suitable jam nut 34 is provided upon the bolt 28 to lock the nut 31 in place after the bearing 25 has been properly adjusted.

The face of the heel end of the switch tongue 10 and the forward face of the tread portion 11 engaged therewith form an arc struck from the center of the pin 19. It will thus be seen that the heel end of the switch tongue will be maintained in close relationship with the tread portion 11, and that the topgue may be freely moved from side to SIC e.

The dimensions of the arm 16 and pin 19 are such as to permit them to be passed through the opening 15 in assembling the parts of the structures; and in order to make the pin 19 of ample diameter and yet permit 1t to be passed through the opening 15, I-

make the length or vertical dimensions of the pin 19 less than the width of the opening 15.

In assembling the parts of the structure, the switch tongue 10 is turned to bring the ends of the pin substantially parallel to the side walls of the opening 15, as shown in Fig. 6, thus permitting the pin 19 and arm 16 to be passed through the opening 15 into the position shown in said figure. After the pin 19 and arm 16 have been passed through the opening 15 to the position shown in Fig. 6, as just described, the switch tongue with its arm and pin is turned at right angles to the position shown in Fig. 6 to the position shown by full lines in Fig. 7; and when the switch tongue has been thus turned, it may be lowered into position upon the floor 3 while the pin 19 is being moved into its position upon the plate 22 and into the bearing 24 as shown by dot-and-dash lines in Fig. 7. After the switch tongue has been thus moved into place, the parts of the adjustable bearing 25 are assembled together upon the arm 16, and the nut 31 is adjusted to cause the bearing 25 to properly engage the pin 19 and seat it within the bearing 24, the bearing 25 serving to maintain the switch tongue 3 in proper relation to the other parts of the structure.

In assembling the parts of the adjustable bearing 25, the bolt 28 is turned to cause its head 30 to project forwardly or in a reverse direction to that shown in Fig. 5, and the bolt is moved to a position close to the rearward face of the wall 21, which permits the block 26 to be adjusted into engagement with the pin 19. This being done, the bolt 28 is moved to the position shown in Fig. 5, and the block 27 is moved into place upon the bolt 28 between the block 26 and the wall 21 after which the collar 32 and nuts 31 and 34 are applied to the bolt and the nut 31 is turned to properly adjust the bearing as previously described.

In the modification shown in Fig. 9, the floor portion 3, the guard portion 9 and the tread portions 8 and 11 are shown formed of a single piece of hard metal separate from and speltered into the remainder of the frame or base 2 of the switch structure.

It is desirable, in constructing railway switches of the class to which my invention relates, to construct the floor portion 3, the

tread portions 8 and 11 and the guard portion 9 of a single piece of hard metal; and in Fig. 9 I have shown the single piece of metal including these parts speltered into a casting forming the remaining parts of the frame, while in the other figures I have shown the entire frame, including the floor portion 3, the tread portions 8 and 11, and the guard portion 9 formed in a single casting of hard metal.

I provide the frame or base of the switch structure adjacent the pivoted end of the switch tongue with the usual lateral extension or guard portion 40, which is secured to the frame 2 by suitable bolts ll and is provided with a suitable removable cover by the removal of which access may be readily had to the inner working parts of the switch structure.

By my improved. switch construction hereinbefore described, I am enabled to employ a pivot pin of ample diameter for the switch tongue and locate the pin rearwardly of the heel end of the tongue to prevent kicking and to assemble the parts into a structure in which the floor portion supporting the switch tongue is free from exposed openings, and also in which the floor portion the guard portion on one side thereof, the tread portion on the other side thereof and the tread portion forming the abutment for the switch tongue, may be formed in a single piece of hard metal.

By constructing the parts so that the pivot pin for the switch tongue may extend upwardly from the arm projecting from the switch tongue, I am. enabled to locate the pin in a bearing close to the horizontal plane occupied by the tongue, and at the same time conceal it beneath the tread portion forming the abutment for the tongue; it being understood that the nearer the pivot pin is located to the horizontal plane occupied by the tongue, the greater will be the ease with which the tongue may be moved on its pivot.

I claim 1. In a tongue switch a frame structure including a floor portion having an opening extending therethrough and downwardly ex tending walls and a tread portion rising from the floor portion; a switch tongue upon the floor portion and having its heel end abutting against said tread portion; an. arm extending from said tongue through said opening; and a pivot pin on said arm and having a bearing beneath. said tread portion; said opening being entirely covered by the heel end of the said tongue and the dimensions of said arm and said pin being such as to permit them to be passed through said opening.

2. In a tongue switch, a frame structure including a floor portion hacing an opening extending therethrough and downwardly extending walls and a tread portion rising from the floor portion; a switch tongue upon the floor portion an d having its heel end abutting against said tread portion; an arm extending from said tongue through. said opening; and a pivotpin on said arm and having a bearing beneath said tread portion; the width of said opening being less than the width of the heel end of said tongue and greater than the length of said pin.

8. In a tongue switch, a frame structure including a floorportion having an opening extending therethrough and downwardly extending walls and a tread portion rising from the floor portion; a switch tongue upon the floor portion and having its heel end abutting against said tread portion; an arm extending from said tongue downwardly through said opening and horizontally beneath said tread portion; and a pivot pin extending upwardly from said arm and having a bearing beneath said tread portion.

4. In a tongue switch, a frame structure including a floor portion having an opening extending therethrough and downwardly extending walls and a tread portion rising from the floor portion; a switch tongue upon the floor portion and having its heel end abutting against said tread portion; an arm extending from said tongue downwardly through said opening and horizontally beneath said. tread portion; and a pivot pin extending upwardly from said arm and having a bearing beneath said tread portion; the width of said opening being less than the width of the heel end of said tongue and greater than the length of said pin.

5. In a tongue switch, a frame structure including a floor portion having an opening extending therethrough and downwardly extending walls and a tread portion rising from the floor portion; a switch tongue upon the floor portion and having its heel end abutting against said tread portion; an arm extending from said tongue downwardly through said oacning and horizontally beneath said tread portion; a pivot pin extending upwardly from said arm, the rearward portion of said pin having a bearing in a wall of said frame; and an adjustable bearing engaged with the forward portion of said pin.

6. In a tongue switch, a frame structure including a floor portion having an opening extending thcrethrough and downwardly extending walls and a tread portion rising from the floor portion; a switch tongue upon the floor portion and having its heel end. abutting against said tread portion; an arm extending from said tongue downwardly through said opening and. horizontally beneath said tread portion; a pivot pin extending upwardly from said arm between two walls of said frame, the rearward portion of said pin having a bearing in. one of said two walls; and an adjustable bearing interposed between the forward portion of said pin and the other of said two walls.

7. In a tongue switch, a frame structure including a floor portion having an opening extending therethrough and downwardly extending walls and a tread portion rising from the floor portion; a switch tongue upon the floor portion and having its heel end abutting against said tread. portion; an arm extending from said. tongue downwardly through said opening and horizontally beneath said tread portion; a pivot pin extending upwardly from said arm, the rearward portion of said pin having a bearing in a wall of said frame;

the floor portion; a switch tongue upon the floor portion and having its heel end abutting against said tread. portion; an arm extending from said tongue downwardly through said opening and horizontally beneath said tread portion; a pivot pin extending upwardly from said arm between two walls of said frame, the rearward portion of said pin having a bearing in one of said two walls; an adjustable bearing interposed between the forward portion of said pin and the other of said two walls; and a removable bearing plate engaged with the bottom of said pin and with said frame.

9. In a tongue switch, a frame structure having a bearing therein and a wall adjacent said bearing, a switch tongue provided with a pin a portion of which is fitted to said bearing, and an adjustable bearing between said wall and said pin and comprising a pair of overlapping blocks engaged with each other and with said wall and said pin, the engaging faces of said blocks being on an angle with respect to the face of said wall, and a bolt ex tending through said blocks and provided with a head engaging one block and a part adjustable on the bolt and engaging the other block.

10. In a tongue switch, a frame structure having a bearing therein and a wall adjacent said bearing, a switch tongue provided with a pin a portion of which is fitted to said hearing, and an adjustable bearing between. said wall and said pin and comprising a pair of overlapping blocks engaged with each other and with said wall and said pin, and a bolt extending through said blocks and provided with a head engaging one block and apart adjustable on the bolt and engaging the other block.

11. In a tongue switch, a frame structure including a floor portion having an opening extending therethrough and downwardly extending walls and a tread portion rising from the floor; a switch tongue upon the floor portion and having its heel end abutting against said tread portion; an arm extending from said tongue downwardly through said opening and horizontally beneath said tread portion, a pivot pin extending upwardly from said arm. between two walls of said frame, the rearward portion of said pin having a bearing in one of said two walls, and an adjustable bearing on the horizontal portion of said arm and between said wall and said pin and comprising a pair of overlapping blocks engaged with each other and with said wall and said pin, the engaging faces of said blocks being on an angle with respect to the face of said wall, and means for adjusting said blocks relatively to each other.

12. In a tongue switch, a frame structure including a floor portion having an opening extending therethrough and downwardly extending walls and a tread portion rising from the floor a switch tongue upon the floor portion and having its heel end abutting against said tread portion; an arm extending from said tongue downwardly through said opening and horizontally beneath said tread portion, a pivot pin extending upwardly from said arm between two walls of said frame, the rearward portion of said pin having a bearing in one of said two walls, and an ad justable bearing on the horizontal portion of said arm and between said wall and said pin and comprising a pair ofoverlapping blocks engaged with each other and with said wall and said pin, the engaging faces of said blocks being on an angle with respect to the face of said wall, and a bolt extending through said blocks and provided with a head engaging one block and a part adjustable on the bolt and engaging the other block.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

EDWARD 'I. ALBURGER, JR.

Witnesses:

E. M. WARE, A. V. GnoUrn. 

